As I’ve mentioned in
the Velvet Bulldozer we have had to use independent specialists to get to the
bottom of our children’s difficulties. We’ve usually turned to them in total
desperation when we’ve been getting nowhere with the Local Authority. Some of
the following information may help you:

Dr. Angel Adams

I was lucky enough to be told about Dr. Angel Adams in 2004. I was even luckier to meet this remarkable and very experienced lady and have her assess Jack.
I can highly recommend her assessment. Having taken Jack there we finally knew why his life had been so hard. I know it sounds odd but Jack was so relieved to discover what his problems were. He isn’t stupid (which is what he’d been made to feel) and he needed to know who he was. There were genuine physical and psychological reasons why certain things were so difficult. We now know that Jack has severe ADHD, is on the Autistic Spectrum (Semantic Pragmatic Disorder and meets criteria for Asperger’s Syndrome in many areas), has Auditory Processing Disorder, Dyspraxia as well as the already diagnosed Dyslexia. Finding out meant we could then move on to accessing the most appropriate help for him. We had to pay for the assessment but it was worth every penny as her specialist reports gave us the ammo to get Jack some help at last!
Dr. Angel Adams is a highly experienced clinical psychologist and known as a leading advocate for parents, grandparents and foster carers in the UK. Her expertise is in assessing, diagnosing and treating children with complex psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders. She works at the CAMHS psychiatry team, Sutton Hospital, Sutton, Surrey. Her private practice is in Kingston, Surrey.

In conjunction with her affiliated team of professionals and parents, her mission is to provide a wealth of knowledge, practical and science-based information and or therapies to help empower parents to raise socially competent children, no matter what age or what diagnosis.
Dr. Adams has been a continuing support since 2004 to our family. A wonderfully kind woman and a very warm human being – and we can do with more of those!

Dr. Hilary Dyer is available to share her knowledge, expertise, warmth, and energy with parents of children with Special Educational Needs, in conducting independent assessments of needs, and in offering a range of legal services covering the SEN Code of Practice and SEN legislation.

Dr Hilary Dyer is a fabulously enthusiastic lady. I was very pleased when she emailed me, out of the blue, asking if she could attend my talk to the National Autistic Society - North Somerset branch? Could she attend - I was THRILLED!!! And it was wonderful for the parents who attended to have time to chat with her and get her advice.
I am happy to point you towards Hilary. Her energy and passion, for helping people caught in the SEN system, were infectious.

Eagle House School is an
independent school that provides specialised education for primary age
children who hold Statements of Special Educational Needs for Autistic
Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and associated social and communication
difficulties. Attached to the school is the Eagle House Clinic comprised of
a multi-disciplinary team. The clinic provides a comprehensive assessment of
the child or adolescent with neurodevelopment disorders and or social
communication disorders. A formal diagnosis will be made by the team if
appropriate and information regarding the level of functioning across all
areas of development. The findings of the assessment will be documented in
a detailed report which can be used to make recommendations for:

1. Annual
Reviews.

2. The type
of educational placements.

3.
Contribution to the Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

4. Special
Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.

5. Type of
therapeutic input most appropriate for child or adolescent.

I can also thoroughly recommend Speech
and Language Therapist (SALT)
Charlotte Wilson – another woman passionate about
her job. Her SALT report regarding Jack was excellent and extremely thorough.
Ms. Wilson can be contacted at:

Education Otherwise is a UK-based membership
organisation which provides support and information for families whose children
are being educated outside school, and for those who wish to uphold the freedom
of families to take proper responsibility for the education of their children.

And they’re jolly nice people! We
were members when we were homeschooling our mob and it helped not to feel so
isolated and to be able to contact others with the same mindset. Contact:

In the Velvet Bulldozer I have sung the
praises of Professor Colin Terrell
(Aspire Consulting Psychologists, Nuffield
Hospital, Cheltenham, Glos, GL51 6SY, telephone: 01242 574646) and Dr. Angel
Adams (www.prosocialskills.co.uk).
Here’s another thought if neither of the above are able to help you.

Take a look at
www.flowerassociates.co.uk. Mr. Dirk Flower was extremely kind and helpful
to me when we were trying to unravel the diagnosis for Jack this summer. He was
very concerned for Jack when I explained what was going on but said that he
couldn’t get involved on this occasion as Jack was now too old (his practice
deals with younger children). However, in spite of the fact that he wasn’t
going to make a penny from us he spent time with me on the telephone and gave us
some very good advice. ‘Janet’ had recommended him to me as she had worked
with him during previous Tribunals. I trust Janet. If she says someone is a
good egg then that’s good enough for me.

If
you are visiting the Velvet website it is presumably because you are worried
about your child. We took our son Jack to the INPP twice and found them to
be helpful and sympathetic. They were very straightforward and honest with
us - which was very much appreciated. Sally Blythe, at INPP, diagnosed
Jack's Auditory Processing Disorder and confirmed that he had Retained Birth
Reflexes, which were impacting on his life. These diagnoses were a very
important part of Jack's personal 'jigsaw puzzle' and helped us to finally
achieve a better understanding of our son and his complex mix of
difficulties. Their assessments made sense and I would commend you to take
a look at their website:
:

INPP
has pioneered research into Neuro Developmental Delay. The INPP Programme has
been providing effective help for the under-achieving child since 1975.
Since that time it has successfully treated several thousand children with
an 80% success rate. There are therapists using the INPP programme in 16
countries throughout the world.

INPP is a private self-funding
organisation which provides:

Assessment and supervision of remedial
programmes for children with specific learning difficulties and adults with
balance-related emotional problems

The TreeHouse Trust (TreeHouse) is a UK charity, based in north London and founded in 1997 by a group of parents whose children had recently been diagnosed with severe autism. TreeHouse was established in response to the
huge
unmet national need for specialist education for children with autism. Its aim was to provide an educational centre of excellence for children with autism
and related communication disorders. They also run Treehouse School.

As of the 1 February 2005, TreeHouse has merged with PACE, a campaigning
charity for children with autism. PACE is now the TreeHouse Policy and Campaigns Team.

TreeHouse are just launching the publication of a new manual to help parents campaign constructively, and help to change services and provision for all children with autism in their local area. It is called:

'Constructive Campaigning for Autism Services: The PACE Parents' Handbook' and it is available through Jessica Kingsley Publishers (www.jkp.com).

Treehouse think that the Velvet Bulldozer works well alongside their handbook. I've been invited to the launch and am pleased to be associated with this
book.

This is a super organisation. They regularly publish a newsletter
full of pertinent snippets If you would like to receive the Newsletter
(current and future editions) all you need do is email Tom Hoyle at
(thoyle@treehouse.org.uk) with
'Request Newsletter' in the subject line.

Tom said it would be really handy too if readers/supporters gave them the
following information information for their records. They promise to look after
it but it could be
valuable for TreeHouse's national policy and campaigns work:

Name
Address
Postcode
LEA/PCT
Email
Telephone

They would appreciate it if you could tell them whether you are a
parent/professional/campaigner/policymaker...And whether you would prefer to
receive the newsletter by post or email.. Check out the policy and campaigns
part of the website at:

I went to a fascinating talk given by Professor
Baron-Cohen and our children have agreed to take part in the genetic research
programme. His books aren't bad either!! Actually 'An Exact Mind' (www.jkp.com)
is truly amazing. The intricacy of the drawings will take your breath away.

Diagnosis of Adults

If any of you know of any adults seeking diagnosis may I
suggest you contact this clever and caring man. Professor
Baron-Cohen holds diagnostic clinics for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome Check
out Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service (CLASS). ‘This is a clinical
service for adults with Asperger Syndrome. Currently there are very few clinics
in the UK specializing in the regrettably very late diagnosis of adults with
AS. The clinic primarily offers a diagnostic opinion, and takes national
referrals, but also runs some social support groups for local patients’.
http://www.autismresearchcentre.com.

Adults in the workplace

Autism West Midlands offer
support into the workplace for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome and might be
worth talking to for this sort of advice.

Autism Speaks is the only
charity in the UK raising funds for research into the causes of autism, so that
we can improve the quality of life for those living with this confusing and
isolating condition

Although based in Wales, and obviously very helpful for
those of us who live in Wales, Autism Cymru are a good organisation to contact
for information on anything to do with Autism. Check our their website:

Sandy will be leading two workshops at the Autism Cymru Conference April 22nd
and 23rd 2008 in Cardiff City Hall. If any of you are attending the conference
please do come and say hello. If you haven't attended these conferences before
I'd highly recommend - excellent speakers from whom I've learned a lot in the
past. Take a look at the Autism Cymru site:

Fostering Solutions is an independent
foster care agency who are passionate about ensuring positive outcomes for
children and young people in foster care. I know there are many children in
foster care or who are adopted who have special needs. I also know that there
are some fantastic foster carers/adoptive parents out there who are desperate to
find help.

I'd recommend you take a look at this interesting site set up
by parents to try to help other parents - good for them!
This is a web site which has been written by the parents of Zoe,
an autistic child living in the UK, with a view to sharing as much practical knowledge as possible.

________________________________________________

A site full of all sorts of useful information. I was reading a very
interesting piece regarding dyspraxia there the other day. Would
recommend you check it out.
________________________________________________

This is
a very helpful site. It is just changing hands but I feel confident that it
will continue to share information of help to parents, SENCOs, teachers and
LSA. Anyone, in fact involved in the care of children. Do check it out.

________________________________________________

Equazen EyeQ

Two of our children have been taken the Equazen EyeQ Omega 3 and 6 supplements for the last few months. I wish I’d found this supplement years ago as I really think that it has a very positive effect on them.
Equazen themselves are very interested in special needs education. This is because they have received so many enquiries from desperate parents! They really do want to support us and so try to share information, etc., that may help. All the Equazen staff are friendly and helpful I’ve found. I’ve also found that their Evening Primrose oil is excellent for me.
They run the Learning Alliance, which is a non-profit making part of their
organisation. The Learning Alliance holds an annual special needs
conference, which was excellent and very informative – I was the last speaker of the day and a very lively question and answer session ensued!!.
Local events are also planned I believe.

It shares the same aims as ours for cutting through the
jargon, legal andbureaucratic speak, to bring parent/carers up to speed
quickly on what toexpect and to become well informed.

________________________________________________

Holidays for people with special needs

I offer advice in the Velvet Bulldozer to parents who are looking for
holidays that might be suitable for their children/adults with special needs. I
didn’t know such organisations existed and our children have now enjoyed some
wonderful holidays. If you haven’t yet dipped into a copy of the VB (picked up
from your library maybe) may I suggest you check out some of the following:

Mencap – (who have a list of these sorts of holidays)
www.mencap.org.uk - this is a good place to start.

We can personally recommend Chrysalis Holidays 01942 671581 (our children
have enjoyed several holidays, in the UK and abroad, organised by Chrysalis).
It gives them a lovely feeling of independence in safe environment and a break
from Mum and Dad!

This very comfortable and pretty apartment that sleeps four or five and is
in a very peaceful location (on a golf course overlooking the sea) near the
little town of Caleta where you can find everything you need if you want to
go out. However, if you want to eat in then the kitchen is fully fitted
(oven, hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine).

There is a TV/DVD in lounge and a separate TV for watching videos that can
be moved into either bedroom (if your child cannot be separated from the
video player for the duration of a holiday - we know it can make a
difference between a happy time and frankly a trial!).

There is a hot tub in the front garden, fabulous views from the rear garden.
Very quiet community swimming pool just paces away from your door. The
beaches are peaceful and spacious (there is a selection some quieter than
others, some virtually deserted!!) so you should be able to find a space for
your family VERY easily. Fuerteventura is the largest of the Canary
Islands but the least populated. The weather is rarely sticky but often
bright and sunny with a breeze. We love it and have just returned from a
very good holiday with our two youngest boys.

They played ball on the wide main beach, went to the golf driving range with
their dad and generally chilled out. We felt safe there with them.

Even on the one dull day we had a good time. The boys all went bowling and
had a bracing walk along the cliff walk. They both looked tanned and really
good well we returned them to their special needs colleges which is good in
the depths of dark winter

For those of
you.......

.............with
older children there is a question mark about what happens when your child
leaves special needs college if they still need support. I do talk about this
in the Velvet Bulldozer but here are some further thoughts as things have moved
on since the book went to the publisher:

Camphill
Communities.

Helping People with Special Needs

Two of our youngsters are now enjoying a fulfilling and happy life in Camphill Communities.This is a wonderful organisation that has schools,
colleges and communities for people with a range of Learning Difficulties and Disabilities. You'll see from the Velvet Bulldozer that I think that if
you are looking for a suitable place for your child I can commend this organisation very highly.

If you are looking to help out, or even
do a gap year helping out, then do look at the Camphill website under job
opportunities. They have co-workers who travel from all over the world to
live and work with helping people with special needs in their colleges and
communities. I asked one lovely young lady from Russia why she came to
South Wales (she was helping out at Coleg Elidyr). She said that she had
come to improve her English but that she 'had learned so much more!' I
think that says it all. Co-workers can be any age over 18 and some are just
taking a sa

bbatical from the rat-race.

You don't earn much money but the
experience is priceless!!
We have had very good experiences with Camphill. They really have helped Alice a lot. Alice
is moving into a supported living house as part of a small Camphill community in
the summer (she likes things to be quiet) and very much looking forward to it.
Alex is going for a two-week trial visit to another much busier Camphill
Community (he thrives in this sort of atmosphere) and hopes that there might be
a place for him early next year when he finishes at his special needs college.

I’ve also recently
found the following which may be of help to some of you:

Living PROSPECTS.
Living PROSPECTS supports about 200 people with learning disabilities in a range
of living and day opportunities settings throughout the UK.

Its first home opened in 1979
in Aberystwyth and Living PROSPECTS now has services in different parts of
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

People with learning disabilities are
supported in a variety of living situations -

in one of 25
homes or

in supported
living projects,

in their own
homes

or in a home
support scheme to provide short-term support in the homes of families in SE
England (a project which PROSPECTS is setting up in partnership with CARE).

Its philosophy is guided by the
Principle of Personal Value which acknowledges in people with learning
disabilities their individuality, integrity, dignity, independence and
spirituality as well as their place as part of the ordinary life of society.

The flexible services provided by
Living PROSPECTS respond to the changing needs and wishes of those receiving
them. Those needs and wishes are assessed in partnership with them through the
Essential Lifestyle Planning process.

Living PROSPECTS is committed to
responding to the aspirations and needs of people with learning disabilities
regardless of the degree of disability. A number of people supported have
multiple disabilities. It enables people with learning disabilities to live
their lives to the full, recognising each person as made in the image of God and
with the equality of respect that flows from that.

I’ve found the National Autistic Society to be extremely
helpful for all sorts of reasons and would strongly suggest you contact them if
you are helping anyone with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Check out their
website:

As a member of the NAS (and I'd recommend anybody with an
autistic member of
the family to join as they are a very helpful organisation and useful to see
what resources are around) I receive regular updates from them about new
publications and useful fact-sheets. Do click on the following link to
check out what's available currently.

63% of adults with autism do not
have enough support to meet their needs.

60% of parents say that a lack
of support has resulted in their son or daughter having higher support needs
in the long term.

A third of adults (33%) say they
have experienced severe mental health difficulties because of a lack of
support.

Over 60% of adults with Asperger
syndrome or high-functioning autism have struggled to receive support from
their local authority and/or health service. Of these, 52% were told that
they do not fit easily into mental health or learning disability services.

61% of adults rely on their
families for financial support and 40% live at home with their parents.

92% of parents are worried about
their son's or daughter's future when they are no longer able to support
them.

NAS North Somerset Branch

NAS North Somerset Branch is clearly an energetic and very helpful group who
hold lots of meetings and could be life changing for you. They've just held
their Autism Heroes event which brought a lump to my throat just reading
about it. I'm speaking there on 15th October 2009 and looking forward to
meeting them all very much.

I've just completed this survey (
www.autism-survey.com ) having heard
about it through the National Autistic Society. It didn't take long to do
(perhaps 10 minutes) and you might find it worthwhile to complete as the
more of us who speak out the better. It is anonymous!

Help regarding Disability Living Allowance.

This is a very helpful section of the National Autistic Society website
which deals with Frequently Asked Questions regarding claiming Disability
Living Allowance (DLA)for your Autistic child/adult - and they are entitled
to claim this allowance which can be very helpful financially:

Nasen is the leading organisation in the UK which aims to promote the education, training, advancement and development of all those with special and additional support needs.
Nasen reaches a huge readership through its journals: British Journal of Special Education, Support for Learning, new on-line publication Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs and the magazine Special.
Nasen House, 4/5 Amber Business Village, Amber Close, Amington, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77 4RP.
Tel: 01827 311500
Fax: 01827 313005
http://www.nasen.org.uk email: welcome@nasen.org.uk

Jargon Busting

I talk in the Velvet Bulldozer about 'jargon busting
and understanding short
forms' when you enter the world of special needs. To help you further with
this may I commend to you the following very helpful page on the National
Autistic Society website:

Glossary of terms

A glossary of terms used in the field of autism and Asperger syndrome. Some
terms are central to autism, some describe related or concurring conditions:
many are terms parents may hear, particularly from professionals working
with and for them. The source of all terms is included. If you discover
relevant terms you think should be added, please email
webeditor@nas.org.uk
using the subject 'Glossary of terms on the NAS website'.

It is part of the NAS Surrey Branch website which is a mine of helpful
information. I already recommend you visit it generally but this page
specifically would cut out a lot of scratching around. Good luck

Mencap

I know this is mentioned in the Velvet Bulldozer but I really do feel that you
should add the Mencap website to your list of favourites.

Mencap is a very helpful organisation on a wide range of subjects related to
people with Learning Disabilities. I looked on the site and then telephoned the
free helpline (0808 808 1111) this morning regarding a query about Benefits for
one of the children. As I've mentioned this can be a complex system and it was
a very worthwhile conversation with somebody who is impartial. I feel I've been
pointed in the right direction and they are asking one of their Benefits
Advisors to telephone me next week to talk to me in detail.

_____________________________________________________

I was sent details
about an organisation called IS2D. They cover many subjects close to my heart.
It may be that they are close to your heart also so here are their details:

I went to an IS2D event late in
2004. Very helpful, very interesting, worth the trip.

One of the speakers was a young
lady with ASD called Ros Blackburn. She had us enthralled for an hour. She
spoke fluidly, entertainingly, intelligently and very movingly but certainly
without a trace of self-pity. She was marvellous. She very matter of factly
talks about how ASD affects her life, her obsessions (the word ‘lizard’ and
glittery paper for instance). She clearly has a wide vocabulary but admits to
being incontinent and incapable of coping with daily life without support. She
told us she is a ‘serial escaper’ and once when arriving at a speaking
engagement at a school surprised the headmaster when she climbed over the wall
to get in (she had to know she could get out) instead of driving up to the
front steps of the building with the others in her party!

It was a very moving account and
insight of life on the ‘other side’ and I’m so glad I met her. It certainly
helps me in my daily dealings with our four. Some things that crop up aren’t
logical but sometimes we just have to go with the flow!

‘IS2D is a not-for-profit organization
that aims to make a difference to the lives of people with a label of ‘Autism’
or ‘Asperger Syndrome’.

Their vision is to create real
employment opportunities in training and development in partnership with people
with a label of Autism and Asperger Syndrome. They believe in supporting
people to acquire experience, support, qualifications and mentorship in training
and development.

Possibly a good organisation to have in
your address book.

_____________________________________________________

The Rainbow School

The Rainbow School for autistic children was founded by a group of parents
with autistic children, in September 2000.

The Rainbow Charity for children with autism
520 Garratt Lane
London SW17 ONY

Brookdale Care

Brookdale Care specialise in residential care and secure hospital services
for people with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome (Autistic Spectrum Disorder).
Our services are designed to meet the challenging needs of adults and
adolescents on the Autistic Spectrum in a highly supportive, therapeutic and
homely environment.

Making A Referral

Making a referral to Brookdale is a
straightforward process. The first stage is to contact us by phone on
01707 646 646 or
e-mail us on
referrals@brookdalecare.co.uk

Please note the address has changed and they no longer accept Appeals from
Wales (the new details for Welsh SENDIST are on this site too).

_____________________________________________________

Funding advice for Special Needs Schools

Joint Educational Trust.
If you’ve read the Velvet Bulldozer you’ll know that we found this a
life-changing organisation. If you haven’t read the book I’d still urge you to
contact them for advice. It is possible that they might be able to put you in
touch with a charitable body who may help to fund special needs schooling for
your child. JET have a list of all these plus they are able to guide you to
those organisations who may be especially relevant for you. In our case it was
organisations who offer help to adopted children.

The objective of Adders is to promote awareness to AD/HD
(Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and to provide information and as much free
practical help as they can to those with the condition, both adults and
children, their families in the UK and around the World via their website.

Very interesting and proactive organisation. If you suspect any of your
family suffer from auditory processing (at least two of our boys have been
diagnosed and I'm sure the third has it too) then it is worth contacting
ADPDUK for help and advice.

Auditory processing is often confused with deafness. With auditory
processing the hearing is fine it is the slowness of getting the messages
from the ear to the brain which is a problem - especially in mainstream
school settings.

Contact a Family

Another extremely useful organisation I mention in the
Velvet Bulldozer. Worth trawling their site for all sorts of infomation
about a huge range of disabilities:

SOS!SEN - IMPORTANT NEWS!!!!!! SOS!SEN are an excellent
organisation. If you are involved in any sort of battle
regarding your child's special needs, trying to get a Statement for example,
I REALLY would recommend that you talk to SOS!SEN and try to get to
their events. You'll learn a lot!!
I have spoken enthusiastically before on this website about two-day
workshops I attended last year and the year before, given by SOS!SEN. They
were extremely
well put together and I know I wasn't alone in feeling empowered by the
knowledge I gained there from this fabulous organisation. The sort of
information they can impart is invaluable, as is the opportunity to ask
questions and get advice directly from SEN Barrister John Friel and SEN
solicitor Melinda Nettleton.

This would be particularly invaluable if you have a SENDIST Tribunal looming
as SOS!SEN stage a 'mock tribunal'. The people involved in the mock up
have all been very involved in Tribunals themselves and it will help to
de-mystify this in a unique and extremely helpful way. I will never forget
how isolated we felt as we battled on. This event gives you the chance to
meet up with other parents and also talk to some of the leading special
needs legal experts in the country and drink in their advice.
I think you'll find this money well spent. Also Marion and Bob, who run
SOS!SEN as a charity, are two of the most passionate and caring people you'd
ever hope to meet. They really know their onions too!!! I'd have given my right arm for the
chance to talk to people like this when we were in the thick of the battles- a couple of minutes of good advice from them would have changed a lot of
things. And it was fun. Very good value too!!!
Interested ? Read on........:

Please note the new website address. Very useful. I
strongly recommend that you visit this site:http://www.sossen.org.uk

HELPING PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SEN

- WHAT DO WE DO?

We offer a free, friendly, independent, confidential and local
telephone helpline for parents and others looking for information and advice on
Special Educational Needs (SEN). We concentrateon helping people to find their
way through the legal and procedural maze which is so daunting to so many who
try to obtain satisfactory provision for a child’s special needs.

Our aim is to encourage parents and carers eventually to become
empowered and confident to

tackle for themselves the obstacles and difficulties, which
arise, and in turn to use their knowledge

and experience to help others

WHO ARE WE?

We are all volunteers who have spent much of our lives in
education or related services.

SEN Legal (this is what I talk about in the book – one
contact can lead to another but it is so difficult if you don’t know where to
even start!!).

SEN Legal provide:

Help for parents who are unhappy with the advice given
and the provision they are receiving from their school or local education
authority (LEA).

Help for former pupils whose schools failed them.

A family friendly service available 9-5 weekdays, or
evenings and weekends to fit in with parent's working hours where this would
be more helpful.

Expertise, Experience, Efficiency.

SEN Legal is a Solicitors practice that specialises in
education law and special educational needs. They provide a service
throughout England and Wales offering advice, help and representation on all
aspects of education law, including special educational needs (assessment,
statementing, placement, SEN tribunals), admissions, inclusion / exclusions,
school refusals, bullying and home tuition. We are a member of ELAS (the
Education Law Association).

I cannot endorse them as I
haven’t used them but the solicitor, Melinda Nettleton, is very well known in
the world of SEN so it might be worth following up.

Seminars/Workshops/Events for Parents

I do talk about this in the Velvet Bulldozer (which I hope you are about to
order from your library if nothing else as it really will help you). We knew
nothing like this existed when we were in the thick of things. I have now
attended some extremely useful events on diverse issues such as; challenging
behaviour, Direct Payments, ‘speaking the language’ (ASD), I’ve mentioned the
fascinating talk I went to given by professor Simon Baron-Cohen. I know all
these things take time but I regard it as time well spent. I’ve learned a lot
which I’ve been able to apply to the situations we’ve found ourselves in
regarding the children.

The NAS (National Autistic Society) often have events around the country and
if you join you will be sent details. They always offer discounts on fees for
parents/carers.

If you belong to something like the All Wales Forum they will often cover the
cost of your fees.

The other thing about attending events like these is you do get to meet a lot
of other parents. You will gain strength and comfort from talking with other
people in the same boat as well as learning more about your child and how you
can actively help.

Surf around the web and check out some of the following organisations:

Autism West Midlands (very helpful organisation):

www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk

Autism West Midlands are holding
a conference on June 30th and July 1st. There’ll be a
certain very nervous ‘Velvet’ person speaking there if you want to come along
and heckle!!!!

They often run very helpful and
interesting events. I’ve two flyers on my desk at present for the following :

‘Autism and the Senses’ to help
those who live or work with people with ASD (for example our son Richard
doesn’t feel pain in the same way as you or I might which can be tricky if
something is wrong. Twice he has broken his arm (left and right – playing
football!) but nobody thought it was broken as he wasn’t reacting like a chap
with a broken arm! This wasn’t too serious but we have to watch him as he
might not be aware of the pain from appendicitis for example.

‘Advocacy and Autistic Spectrum
Disorder’. Advocacy is a buzz word at present so it wouldn’t hurt to learn
more.

I’ve also recently been in touch with the Council for
Disabled Children who seem to provide very interesting information.

www.ncb.org.uk/cdc

020 7843 1900

LOOKING UP

THE 40-PAGE MONTHLY INTERNATIONAL

AUTISM NEWSLETTER

LOOKING
UP is a monthly 40-page international newsletter devoted to autism. Aimed at
parents and professionals alike, it is a lively and informative mix of the
very latest findings in autism research from around the world and articles
which explore the impact of autism in all areas.”

I highly
recommend you to take a look at Adam Feinstein’s ‘Looking Up’ website
–packed with interesting and relevant articles and snippets.